5. Delegate catchment - This forest was which are mainly suited for woodchips for once a magnificent expanse of old growth paper making. and rainforest that fed and filtered water into the and its wetlands. It was 9. Woolly Butt Hill or Mt Morris - At the one of the first areas logged in the 70s/80s. junction of Errinundra and Greens Rd an Intensively grown single species, industrial easy 15-20 minute walk takes you through a This tour samples the best of our forests; old growth, the rainforests and tree crops now stretch across the landscape. beautiful stand of Alpine Ash. At the top is a great views (along with and the worst of government forest management) These are no longer forests but commercial rocky outcrop which overlooks the Brodribb all in a jam-packed day’s driving and walking. The climb up to Mt Ellery plantation style plantings. Wilderness with breath-taking views to Mt could be a separate day trip to fully explore it’s summit. Kosciusko, Mt Tingaringi, the Gelantipy 6. Gunmark Road - Although much of Plateau and Mt Delegate. 1. Brown Mountain - An area listed as Sassafras trees on your left. These are Gunmark Road appears to be green and National Estate for its old growth qualities ancient trees dating back to Gondwanic leafy, it is a shadow of the once magnificent 10. Ellery Creek catchment - One of East and rich forest habitat. But also a times. Stop here and crush a leaf to release tall, rich old growth that towered above. Vast ’s few untouched old growth controversial area since the late 1980s the strong scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and areas of clearfelled forest has regrown as catchments which should have been when clearfell logging here began to sarsaparilla. The road has exposed the thick wattle and young gum trees that included in the park in 1988. After a seven destroy these values. Legge Rd was built rainforest to edge drying which has killed supports very little original diversity, tree year long campaign, the catchment was to access and destroy the heart of these off some of the trees. ferns, rainforest and the wildlife. The formally gazetted into the park on 27th ancient forests. There is still some stands predominantly 20-40 year old regrowth is October 1998. It supports at least five of the original forests remaining where rare 3. Giant tree walk - Not far past this patch of very different to 300-600 years old forests. threatened species of wildlife. native wildlife live. During the 2014 rainforest on the right, is a fascinating walk bushfires government workers deliberately into the Darejo tree; ’s 7. Errinundra Saddle Rainforest Walk - This 11. Mt Ellery - At 1,291m, this is the highest cut down every large tree along the road, largest tree measuring 15 metres around its is the show-piece of the Park. Information point on the Plateau. A short but steep 1 km destroying this once cathedral-like drive. An base. This was slated for clearfelling until boards, picnic tables, toilets and rainforest climb takes you to its giant granite tors on informal walk into the old growth forest locals surveying for rare wildlife discovered interpretation boards are all here. An easy the summit. A 1km sheer drop on the starts at 2.1km exactly from the Bonang this giant shining gum. 30 minute walk takes you through a southern side falls to the Goolengook River Hwy. In dry weather, you can drive to the wonderland of ‘dinosaur forests’. catchment. Clear weather allows for road junction. Giant old trees are 4. Tea Tree Wetlands - The deep bed of This was the site of ’s first forest excellent views to the Snowy Mts and coast. throughout these forests as well as the rare sphagnum moss under this rare alpine blockade in 1984, which stopped the logging Misty weather creates a magical ‘otherworld’ Long-footed Potoroo, Powerful and Sooty wetland dates back thousands of years. It of rainforest. The action eventually lead to feel to the mountain top. Mature Alpine Ash Owls, Greater Gliders and many other filters the water and acts as a giant sponge the creation of the Errinundra National Park, and a grassy understorey invites exploration threatened animals that rely on old growth in dry summers, slowly releasing water into including this rainforest, in 1988. around the boulders. forests and hollow trees. These forests and the lower streams. It is drying up and animals were saved by local environment shrinking due to total upper catchment 8. Hammonds Road/Spotmill Track - 12. Warning - if you want to head back to group EEG, in a landmark Supreme Court logging outside of the Park. The regrowth Once part of the largest expanse of Goongerah, keep a close eye out for case during 2009-10. trees are sucking up most of the rainfall rainforest on the plateau and part of the Kermond Road. Turn right just after this. If runoff, drying up the Delegate River and exact same rainforest stand which is you miss this sneaky turn, you’ll end up 2. Result Ck Sassafras Rainforest - this site. Core pollen studies show there protected inside the park at the board walk. half way to . Following the Gap Road to Bendoc, you have been more disturbances to the The narrow government definition of come to the cool-temperate rainforest vegetation here in the last 40 years, than rainforest allows rainforest to be cut down. A Prepared by Environment East Gippsland - January 2016 which is dominated by the pointy-topped since the last ice age (12,000 years ago). commercial crop of eucalypts is regrown, www.eastgippsland.net.au